Denis Villeneuve has given us some amazing movies, especially in the sci-fi genre. Arrival, Blade Runner 2049, and the Dunefilms — with Part Three coming out later this year — can easily be counted among his most influential works. The director’s penchant for larger-than-life visuals and intimate storytelling elevates each movie and speaks to millions of people around the world.
ATLANTA, June 14 — Pedri watched his heroes Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta conquer the world from his family’s bar as a boy, now Spain’s latest midfield maestro is chasing the same dream.
The 23-year-old has already proven to be a fitting heir to Xavi and Iniesta at club level with Barcelona, winning three La Liga titles.
He was also part of the Spanish side that became European champions in Germany two years ago, although an injury in the quarter-final win over the hosts saw him miss the final stages.
Fitness problems had been a persistent problem after he burst onto the scene as a teenager.
After a superb breakthrough season in 2020/21, Pedri’s starring role as Spain reached the semi-finals of Euro 2020 meant he played 73 matches for club and country, a toll which was too much for his developing body.
Barcelona turned to a specialist myopathy laboratory in the USA for solutions and a study of Pedri’s genetics helped create an individual plan that has brought him back to among the world’s best midfielders.
Alongside Lamine Yamal, Gavi, Fermin Lopez and Pau Cubarsi he is part of another hugely talented generation of Barca youngsters that have helped the club overcome financial difficulties to remain La Liga’s dominant force.
‘Like a movie’
Unlike the others, Pedri was not a product of Barca’s fabled La Masia academy.
He made his breakthrough at Las Palmas as a 16-year-old and quickly broke into the first team after joining Barca in 2020.
Yet, his ability to keep possession and vision to cut defences open is reminiscent of Xavi and Iniesta in their prime.
“With Xavi or Iniesta I realised that they are prepared before they receive the ball,” Pedri said in a recent documentary on his rise to stardom.
“I learned that from a very young age and it was natural to me. What makes a good move is knowing what you are going to before you get the ball.”
He will be central to Spain’s attempt to match the feats of the golden generation that won the 2010 World Cup, in between two triumphs at Euro 2008 and 2012.
Back then Pedri watched on admiringly from a bar, founded by his grandad and run by his parents, in Tenerife that was also the first Barcelona supporters’ club on the Canary Island.
“Thanks to God I am living the dream that he had,” Pedri added of his Barcelona fanatic grandfather, who never got to see him play at the Camp Nou. “It’s like something from a movie.”
The next step on the Hollywood script would be for Pedri to make his mark on the World Cup and propel himself into the conversation to win the Ballon d’Or – the prize for the best player on the planet.
Spain boss Luis de la Fuente certainly has no doubt that Pedri deserves to be recognised among the world’s best.
“We don’t know what his best version is because he’s so good,” said De la Fuente, whose side are unbeaten in 31 competitive games heading into the World Cup. “He is limitless.”
Spain begin their World Cup campaign against debutants Cape Verde in Atlanta on Monday.
They will also face Saudi Arabia and two-time winners Uruguay in Group H. — AFP
Dune fans have been as satisfied as fans of any sci-fi franchise in the last few years. Back in 2021, Denis Villeneuve launched the official reboot of the franchise with Dune, which has since been retitled Dune: Part One following the release of Dune: Part Two. The film was a smash hit by every metric, winning six Oscars and grossing over $400 million at the box office against a $165 million budget. The momentum continued into 2024 with the highly anticipated premiere of Dune: Part Two, which was pushed back slightly due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Dune: Part Two earned even better review scores and made more money than its predecessors, but the film didn’t find the same success at the Academy Awards. The Dune trilogy will be complete at the end of this year, following the premiere of Dune: Part Three on December 18.
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